From Camel rides at the Pyramids to seaside ruins in Alexandria — here’s how our Egyptian adventure began.
Last summer, we spent 11 unforgettable days in Egypt, and I’m breaking it down into bite-sized photos, starting with our first three days — Giza, Cairo and Alexandria. We booked this 9-day tour package through GetYourGuide, and to give ourselves time to adjust, we flew in a day early.
After landing in Cairo, we took a taxi from the airport to our hotel in Giza. On the way, I caught my first glimpse of the pyramids. I’ll be honest, I teared up a little. After seeing them only in documentaries, there they were, rising from the desert like a dream made real. We stayed in a hotel that had a perfect view of the Giza Pyramids. Because we arrived in June (peak summer!), we spent the rest of the day recovering from the heat and relaxing in our room.
The next day, our official tour began. Our guide picked us up directly from the hotel and brought us straight to the Giza Plateau. We chose not to go inside the pyramids, and instead did the camel ride to the panoramic viewpoint where you can see all nine pyramids together. It was such a surreal moment — riding through the desert on camelback with the ancient structures towering in the background.
From Giza, we headed into Cairo for a visit to the Egyptian Museum. Even though it wasn’t air-conditioned, it felt refreshingly cooler inside. Seeing the treasures of King Tut up close was easily one of the highlights of the day, although taking photos inside the exhibition is strictly forbidden.
On our third day, we left Cairo early for a full-day excursion to Alexandria. Our first stop was the Catacombs of Kom el Shaqafa, a fascinating blend of Roman, Greek, and Egyptian influences. We then headed to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the stunning, modern library built in homage to the ancient Library of Alexandria.
Finally, we visited the Qaitbay Citadel — a 15th-century fortress with sweeping sea views. It was built on the very site where the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria once stood — one of the original Seven Wonders of the World. We had lunch by the sea before heading back to Cairo.
In the evening, we joined a dinner cruise on the Nile, complete with a buffet meal and local performances — a magical way to end the day.
Quick Tips and Reminders:
- 🌞 June is hot. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and lots of water.
- 💸 Everyone expects tips. Keep small bills handy.
- ⚠️ Be cautious of tourist traps. Like the camel rides that are “paid” in the shop, only to be asked for €20 tips at the viewpoint (yes, per person!). Just know you can politely say no.
- 🎟️ Entrance fees are not included in this GetYourGuide package, you will have to pay extra for them. The guide will get the tickets for you (no lines!).
- 🚌 Transportation, guides, and meals were covered in our tour, which made things smooth and stress-free.
- 🚕 Uber is unbelievably cheap in Egypt, consider using it over taxis to save money and avoid haggling.
Sehnsucht in Sepia 
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